The Ministry of the Interior has based its decision to remove from office the elected mayors of the three metropolitan cities Diyarbakır, Mardin, and Van on the following provisions.

- Article 127, paragraph 4 of the Constitution:
“Loss of status and objections regarding the acquisition of the status of elected organs of local administrations shall be decided by judiciary. However, as a provisional measure until the final court judgment, the Minister of the Interior may remove from office those organs of local administration or their members against whom an investigation or prosecution has been initiated on grounds of offences related to their duties. […]”

Article 47, paragraph 1 of the Municipality Law:
“Municipal organs or members thereof in respect of which or whom an investigation or prosecution is initiated on account of an offence connected with their duties may be suspended from office by the Minister of the Interior pending the final judgment.”